Expert Travel Advice to Seattle

There are the obvious favorites, like New York City and Las Vegasbut with a new year comes new ideas. Here are six destinations that might not be on your New Year's Eve radar, but they're all worthy of a trip to watch the ball drop at midnight.AwayTop Ten

The gear experts at ActiveJunky.com, a partner of GORP.com, know the outdoors like the back of their hands. Here they guide you to six great city hikes across the country, with gear recommendations for each spot included.GorpTop Ten

For a front-row ticket to North America’s natural beauty, hop a train bounding over majestic mountain peaks, deep lakes, and wide-open prairies. In this case, the best view is from the most outdated seat, and the journey far surpasses the destination.AwayTop Ten

This football season, turn off NFL Sunday Ticket, and venture out to these ten football stadiums, the cream of the crop. If scoring tickets to a game proves too elusive, bring some brews and don your best paraphernalia to tailgate outside with all the die-hard fans.AwayTop Ten

Top Answers To Seattle Travel Questions

We drove from Sparland IL (20 miles north of Peoria) to Lakewood, WA (20 miles south of Seattle) in 3.5 days. We traveled via I-90 and did very little sightseeing along the way as I had driven this route before. You can push it a bit more each day and do it in 3 days. We travel with a dog so have to stop more. About 1900 miles each way. Prepare for delays and detours in mountains due to construction and rock slides -- they happen.

Take a trip on a Washington State ferry! The view is spectacular and the price is very reasonable.
On Bainbridge Island you can take a tour with Kitsap Tours (they meet you at the ferry terminal).. Choose between a tour of the island, a tour of the beautiful Bloedel Reserve or a full day touring several unique little communties west of Seattle. www.KitsapTours.com

You should take Sound Transit's Central Link Light Rail from SeaTac to University Station, which will put you close to downtown and places like Pike Place Market as well as the city's excellent Seattle Art Museum. I also think Bill Spiedel's Underground Tour is quite fun, if a bit touristy. If you still have some time and the weather's, you might want to head out to the Space Needle, though I'd be inclined to skip that for just strolling and enjoying the downtown area.